The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld-Chapter 265

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 265: Sword Orb, Sword Aura, Sword Control, Mind Sword

Geninghen extended the same hand he had been pointing to the sky toward me for a handshake.

"Hahaha, boy. I remember when we first met."

Back then, Geninghen had grabbed my hand and tried to channel mana through it to study the dark mana.

"Dark mana! What a truly fascinating power. A mysterious and wondrous force that's difficult to replicate even with magic."

Geninghen's eyes suddenly gleamed.

"If I could take this kid and experiment on him for just a month, it would greatly benefit my magical studies..."

"Elder, that's not why you came here."

"Oops."

Leszek scolded Geninghen, who reluctantly let go of my hand with a disappointed expression.

"Show some dignity. At your age, acting like a fool."

"What's wrong with this? Better than that boring bastard who's over 100 years old but still only holds a sword from dawn to dusk every single day."

I watched the two old men and casually remarked.

"So you two are old friends after all."

Both elders immediately denied it.

"All the other guys got old and died first, so what choice do I have? He's a bit frustrating and boring, but I have to drag him around with me."

"We're not friends, just a bothersome old man."

At Leszek's blunt yet sharp response, Geninghen clicked his tongue.

"Tsk, what a nasty fellow."

But Leszek was truly like an ancient tree, or perhaps a spirit that had inhabited such a tree - he was a master swordsman with a detached and transcendent aura.

I thought that such a man would naturally be distant from ‘human’ emotions like considering someone a friend.

'Though that wasn't exactly a socially appropriate answer.'

I swallowed those words. Would that be too presumptuous?

"As you can see, this fellow is far removed from the five desires and seven emotions. In fact, he's an even stranger character than I am."

"Do you believe one must abandon human emotions to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship?"

To my question, Leszek replied calmly.

"Who can say? I too have not yet reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship."

Coming from someone who had climbed higher than anyone else in the way of the sword, these words sounded all the more frightening.

'8th tier. He seems to exist in a realm that transcends even that.'

Perhaps he's the swordsman closest to the 9th tier, that legendary realm of dreams.

"Boy, anyway, before we talk about old stories, let's change our location a bit."

A soft cloud appeared beneath me, lifting me effortlessly as we floated higher and higher into the sky

"Is this really a cloud?"

"Of course not! It's a carpet."

Geninghen laughed heartily.

"Have you ever had a conversation with someone in the sky?"

"Since I'm not a bird, I never have."

Geninghen nodded.

"Being born human, then becoming a bird, becoming a fish, becoming a tree, becoming mana itself. That is the way of magic I think."

* * *

The sky above the clouds was colder than I expected.

The wind was incredibly strong too.

'Aren't these old men cold?'

Receiving my gaze, Leszek spoke.

"You've learned quite a variety of martial arts."

"Ah, yes. That's right."

"Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship, Eternal Ocean Chain Technique, Whispering Snow in the Night, Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path, Flowing Cloud Thunder Fist. Have you mastered each of these?"

"I've mastered all of them."

"What about the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique?"

"I mastered that one too through recent training."

Leszek nodded and asked.

"But the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique won't be easy, will it?"

"That's right. I still lack the enlightenment needed to enter the 3rd stage."

"If you master it, it's a divine art that can easily defeat even opponents a level above you. Continue your training."

Leszek drew his sword and quietly unsheathed it.

Sring-

How clear yet chilling that sword's ring was.

"Perhaps mastering the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique might be the fastest way to become stronger. Yet I heard you've been focusing on sword technique training instead. Is there a reason?"

"Because my essence is that of a swordsman."

"Good."

Leszek smiled faintly.

"Allenvert, I expect that someday you'll become a swordsman who surpasses both Georg and myself."

"I feel the same way."

"But no flower blooms alone. As a senior who walked the path first, it's proper duty to impart teachings to a descendant with brilliant talent."

Leszek looked at me and smiled gently.

"Today I intend to convey some of the sword mastery I've reached."

"...!"

"I heard you're a rare genius. Just seeing the 'scenery above' once should teach you much."

Geninghen's carpet set us down on a lonely, rugged mountain peak.

"Here, no one will be harmed."

Leszek nodded slightly and drew his sword without preamble.

"Watch, Allenvert."

The aura surrounding his sword blazed like a torch, then compressed into the form of sword aura on the blade.

"Ah!"

It formed a small orb at the sword's tip.

"This technique is called Sword Orb. Similar to the principle of Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique, it compresses extreme power to create a tremendous explosion."

Geninghen added explanation from the side.

"The power contained in that small orb, if unleashed as sword energy, would be massive enough to cut through a giant wall in one stroke. If you compress that and detonate it, imagine the destructive power."

I briefly imagined that scene and said.

"It would literally be a one-man army. If it fell on a formation of troops, it would be total annihilation."

"Exactly. That's why numbers don't matter much to true masters."

Listening to our conversation, Leszek said.

"However, this Sword Orb isn't some invincible ultimate technique."

"Is that so?"

"Watch."

When Leszek lightly swung his sword, the Sword Orb that had been distorting the very air with its massive power floated up above our eye level.

Then Leszek, who had thrown away his sword, drew something from his seemingly empty waist and instantly split the Sword Orb in half.

"!!!"

The futilely bisected Sword Orb fell below the peak and met with a stream flowing below, creating a massive water spout.

KWAAAAANG!

The water that shot up fell on our heads like rain.

Whoooosh-

I stood there with a dumbfounded expression,

getting soaked while replaying the surreal scene I had just witnessed in my mind.

"Allenvert, this is the Mind Sword. For a swordsman who has reached mastery, a sword is no longer necessary - merely waving one's arm through empty air can become a sword that cuts through anything."

"..."

That wasn't all. The sword Leszek had thrown away was floating through the air, circling around me.

"Sword Control?"

"Correct."

Like a hunting dog returning from a walk, I watched the sword return to its sheath by itself and muttered, "Sword Aura, Sword Orb, Sword Control, Mind Sword."

Having witnessed four incredible techniques of realms and tier rarely seen in the mortal world, I was essentially in a state of mild shock.

"Hehehe. The kid's completely stunned!"

Geninghen looked at me and giggled.

"It's more magical than magic itself."

"Of course it is, you greenhorn!"

Geninghen even clapped his hands in delight.

"Allenvert..."

Meanwhile, Leszek, who had just casually demonstrated impossible realms, spoke to me in an emotionless voice.

"These are all merely processes in reaching the mastery of the sword. Ultimately, what's more important than performing such techniques is deeply understanding the essence of the sword and intensely training your body, cultivation techniques, combat tactics, and battle instincts to 'win in fights.'"

He was saying that the essence of the sword lies in life-and-death combat, not in performing fancy moves or more difficult techniques.

"No matter how elegantly you use something like Sword Orb, you could still die facing a lesser opponent who has refined their combat methods through 10,000 real battles."

Leszek pointed at me.

"That's what I wanted to say. Don't become obsessed only with visible realms."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"However, if you can use such things appropriately, your tier and battle powers will rise even higher."

I nodded slightly.

"In other words, these things are merely processes and means to reach the mastery of the sword itself, so I mustn't be confused about that."

"Correct. If you train your sword while keeping my words in mind, and one day become able to 'draw and wield' a single sword held in your mind's image..."

Leszek declared.

"Your opponents across this entire continent won't number more than five."

Coming from this particular man, those words carried extraordinary weight.

"I'm sorry, but there are no specific incantations for such techniques. As you continue refining your sword, you'll suddenly understand the principles one day."

"The highest realms are like taking a test without answer sheets."

Leszek nodded slightly, seeming pleased with my interpretation.

"That's why you must walk the path you believe is right. You can't depend on masters and guides to wield your sword forever."

That's why people call those who create something that never existed before in the world ‘Grand Masters.’

***

"Let's head back now. Our prank went a bit too far."

Geninghen, who had brought me near the camp and said.

"Looking at all the commotion they're making trying to find you."

From Jeffrey's perspective, I had suddenly disappeared, so it was understandable he'd be alarmed.

"What should I tell them?"

I sighed, anticipating Jeffrey's scolding.

"Use our names. Since you guys receive Grunewald's patronage, how could they possibly scold you for meeting with the elders?"

"So this is what they call pulling rank."

Leszek patted my shoulder lightly.

"You must have heard some of the story about our long-standing feud with the Black Society?"

"Yes."

Though I heard it from Siena's mouth, not from Venion or Father.

"Actually, we both hold the position of 'Guardian' protecting the Dragon Heart from the Dark King and the Black Society."

"Guardian?"

Geninghen explained instead.

"The head of clan position doesn't necessarily have to go to the clan's strongest member, but the Guardian position is traditionally given to the strongest among both direct and branch clan lines. For the past several decades, Leszek and I have held that position."

Another secret was flowing from his lips.

"Actually, we were expecting either you or Ullbhild to inherit the next generation."

"Certainly, my sister would suit the Guardian position better than anyone."

Wasn't she a five-star talent who would become the clan's greatest master in the future, excluding Verdzig and me, and a genius who had already crossed the 7th tier barrier?

"But now our thinking has changed. We believe you're the right one to succeed Georg."

At this point, I somehow grasped Leszek's well-trained, rock-like hands with both of mine and said.

"Even if I inherit the head position, I'll guard well alongside my sister so there's no gap left by you two."

"How reassuring."

Leszek covered my hands with his and said.

"Be especially careful. If they manage to retrieve both the Ebony Oath and the Dragon Heart, the Dark King will ascend to the Demon God realm that very day."

It was a statement made all the more chilling by its matter-of-fact delivery.

"However, you must train with the mindset that you'll defeat him with a single sword, even if he becomes a Demon God."

"...!"

It was a statement of completely different caliber in terms of mindset.

"I'll engrave those words in my heart."

"While you face the Black Society on your battlefield, we too are fighting to prevent the Dark King from obtaining the Dragon Heart."

Then Geninghen joked.

"Should we give it to you if it looks like it'll be stolen?"

"Oh."

That's quite an enticing proposal, but these things usually have traps.

"I won't explode and die from eating it wrong, will I?"

"That's right. 7th tier wouldn't even come close. You'd barely be able to handle it after crossing the 8th tier barrier."

Geninghen giggled.

"For anyone other than your father, myself, or this guy, it would be no different from poison."

Leszek added.

"But since we old fools can't eat it ourselves, we were thinking of having one of you father and son eat it when dangerous times come."

"What if Brother Verdzig had become the heir?"

After folding his arms and thinking for a moment, Geninghen replied.

"Well, I would have pretended not to know until the last moment and buried it in the archives."

"..."

A person's reputation is this important.

"We'll head back now."

Leszek gazed at me quietly.

"It will be a difficult fight. But if you can't overcome 'even that level of trial,' you can't become Grunewald's Guardian."

"Of course."

"Carry out this war while keeping the realm I showed you today as a meditation topic. Then you'll surely gain enlightenment."

In other words.

How much greater an opportunity I could make of today's teaching depended entirely on me.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

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